Andy McCullough caught a 22-yard touchdown pass 9:44 into overtime Sunday to send the Colorado Crush to the ArenaBowl with a 49-43 victory over the Chicago Rush in the American Conference championship game.
Colorado’s first overtime possession ended with Chicago’s Todd Howard intercepting John Dutton’s badly underthrown pass in the end zone.
The Crush defense, which had allowed single-season records in passing yards (4,661) and total yards (5,046), then came up big as they knocked down two passes. Chicago also committed a holding penalty that wiped out an apparent 15-yard scoring reception by Bob McMillen.
“They came up big when it mattered most,” Dutton said. “They backed me up after I’d thrown an interception.” Chicago settled for a 35-yard field goal attempt by Keith Gispert, but his kick went wide right.
“It should have been our game,” Chicago coach Mike Hohensee said. “We get the stop, have the holding call and miss the field goal.” Dutton came right back, completing 3-of-4 passes to get the Crush to the Chicago 22. He capped the drive with the pass to McCullough, who made a leaping catch to end the game.
“I wasn’t going to let that pass get away from me,” McCullough said. “I was already thinking ArenaBowl.” Dutton finished 28-for-43 for 299 yards and five touchdowns.
Chicago quarterback Raymond Philyaw rallied Chicago from 20 points down to tie the game at 33 with 2:21 left in the third quarter.
Etu Molden began the comeback with a 26-yard pass off the back screen on the last play of the first half. The Crush tied the game on touchdown passes of 10 and 17 yards to C.J. Johnson.
Colorado went ahead on Clay Rush’s 18-yard field goal before Chicago took its first lead of the game when Charlie Cook dove over from the 1 to make it 40-36 with 7:37 left in the fourth.
McCullough gave Colorado the lead back with an 8-yard scoring pass to Dutton with 2:52 remaining, before Gispert’s 17-yard field goal with no time on the clock sent the game into overtime.
Philyaw finished 29-of-51 for 350 yards and five touchdowns.
The Crush will play Georgia in the ArenaBowl on June 12 in Las Vegas. Georgia defeated Orlando 60-58 in the National Conference title game.
